Loose leaf binder



Sept; 18, 1934. H. D. COTTRELL 9 LOOSE LEAF BINDERv Filed July 15, 1952-2 Sheets-Sheet .1

, v INVENTOR.

BY Z%% ATTORNEY.

Sept. 18, 1934. D. COT-TRELL LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed July 15, 1932 2SheetsSheet' 2 INVENTOR. /%zz/w0 1 dancer 7 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES LOOSE LEAF BINDER Holland D.Cottrell, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 15, 1932, Serial No. 622,616

6 Claims. (01. 129-16) This invention relates to loose leaf binders andan object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of thischaracter in which the sheets or cards are arranged in overlappingrelationship whereby the lower edge of each card extends a slightdistance below the superimposed card permitting an index to be printedon the exposed lower edge of each card thereby providing a binder inwhich ready reference may be had to the contents thereof. 7

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device ofthis character in which theloose leaf sheets or cards are slidablypositioned on a pair of straps extending from one end of the binder tothe other, each card being provided with a return-bent portion againstwhich the upper edge of the next lower card or leaf abutswhereby thelower edge of each card is exposed to view. 7 I

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means forholding the cards or leaves in their correct position on the strapsofthe binder and which is so arranged as to be quickly released to permitadditional cards or leaves to be inserted or to permit the removal ofleaves from the binder.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a loose leafbinder or card index in which the lower edge of each card has indiciaprinted thereon providing for ready reference to the contents of thedifferent leaves or cards in the binder and which is provided with abacking and a transparent cover hingedly connected to the backingthereby preventing soiling of the cards or leaves when the device iscarried in the pocket while still permitting the indicia on the cards tobe seen without raising the cover.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device'ofthis character which is provided with a pair of polished sheet-metalstraps extendingfrom one end of the binder to the other, each card orleaf of the device being provided with a pair of notches adjacent theupper edge thereof for engaging over the straps, the flexible strapspermitting the cards or leaves ofthe binder to be easily slid therealongeither one at a time or a multiplicity thereof to permit replacement orremoval of the cards.

These objects and the several novel features of the invention arehereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form ofconstruction by which these objects are attained is shown in theaccompanying drawings in which- Fig. l is a front elevational view of myimproved binder.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device in readiness to receive anew card.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the cards or leaves bent back and thelocking means for holding the cards in position. I This view furthershows an alternative form of construction.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the looking or holding device. 7

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 6- of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 3; v i Fig. 8is a detail perspective of one of the loose leaf cards.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises the holder 1 formed of aflexible back 2 and a transparent cover 3, the same'being suitably se'cured at its upper end to the turned-over edge 4 of the back 2. A pocket5 is formed adjacent the upper edge of the back 2 while a pocket 6 isformed adjacent the lower edge thereof for per mitting insertion of thelower edge of the cover 3 and the lower edge of the flexible backing 7while the pocket 5 receives the upper edge of the backing '7. V

The juncture of the back 2 and the turned-over portion 4 acts as a hingefor the cover 3 permitting access to the cards in the device when thecover 3 is raised to the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 5. Theflexible sheet-metal straps 8, preferably having a polished surface, areeach formed adjacent their upper and lower ends with the oiisetportionsl), the same each being riveted at 10 to the backing 7, and asis more clearly shown in Fig. 5 a space is provided between each strapand the backing 7 so that the upper edge of the upper card 11 will abutthe portion 12 of each of the straps 8. Each card 11 has the upper edge13 return-bent and suitably secured to the main portion of the card suchas by the staple 14. The T-shaped notches 15 are formed in the upperedge of each card and the wide portion 16 of each notch engages over oneof the straps 7, the same being only slightly smaller in width than thewidth of the portion 16 of the notch while the portion 17 of each notchis less in width than the width of the strap so that when the cards areassembled on the straps the same will not be accidentally removedtherefrom. It will be understood, of course, that the portions of thecard lladjacent the portions 17 of the notches 15 will be sufficientlyflexible to permit the same to be slightly bent before inserting thestraps into the portion 16 of the notches.

Each of the cards 11 is preferably scored at 18 to form a hinge topermit the major portion of the cards to be bent back, as is moreclearly shown in Fig. 6. The edge 13 is formed centrally thereof withthe tongue or tab 19 which projects heneath the upper edge of the nextlower card. It will be seen by referring to Fig. 6 that the staple 14acts as a stop to limit the upward. movement of the next succeedinglower card, and since all of the cards are uniform in length and thestaple 14 positioned in approximately the same place relative to theupper edge of each card, that the lower edge of each card will extend auniform distance below the lower edge of the next upper card providing aspace for printing indicia thereon which may be in the form of an indexto provide for ready reference to the contents of the binder. Thelocking member 20 is formed with the projecting ends 21 forming a notchor recess 22, and each of the projecting ends 21 is provided with theelongated aperture 23 through which the straps 8 extend, the same beingassembled on the strap prior to assembly of the straps with the backing'7. The opposite edge of the locking member 20 is formed with the tongue24 having the rounded ends 25 which engage beneath each of the straps 8as more clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The locking member 20 is preferably formed of semi-rigid material suchas heavy cardboard or the like, and when the tongue 24 is engaged belowthe straps 8 while the main portion is above the same sufficientfriction is provided between the locking member and the strap to holdthe same in position and when the locking member is shoved up againstthe lower card as shown in Fig. 3 the cards will be held in theircorrect position on the straps 8'. Each of the straps 8' adjacent thelower end thereof is formed on its opposite side edges with the notchesto permit the rounded ends 25 of the tongue 24 to be easily insertedunder the strap 8'. The notches further permit the cards or sheets 11 tobe slipped down and lifted from the straps 8, as the width of metalbetween the bottom of the notches 30 is approximately the same as thewidth of the portion 17 of the notch 15. This is necessary whererelatively stiif cards are used as otherwise it would be hard toassemble the cards on the straps. When it is desired to either add a newcard to the straps or remove one therefrom the tongue 24 is removed fromunder the strap 8' F and slid down toward, the lower edge of the backingthen a number of the cards slid down on the strap as shown in Fig. 2 andthe upper cards bent back as shown in Fig. 6. The card to be insertedwill then be placed over the straps 8' and slid up to contact the upperseries of cards.

The lower series of cards will then be slipped up on the straps 8' totheir correct position and the locking member 20 also moved up to engagethe lower card after the rounded ends 25 of the tongue 24 have beenplaced under the strap 8 so that all the cards will be held in theircorrect position. It will be seen that when the cards of the holder havebeen completely filled with data and if it is desired to keep the cardsas a permanent record the upper edge of the backing '7 will be removedfrom the pocket 5 and the lower edge removed from the pocket 6 whereupona new device may be inserted in the holder 1.

It will be understood that although these straps 8 of Figs. 1 and 2 or 8of Fig. 3 have been described as being of metal that the same may bemade of fabric without departing from the spirit of the invention.Ordinarily, however, when fabric straps are used the friction betweenthe fabric straps and the cards is sufficiently great to prevent morethan one card being moved at a time while with using metal straps havinga polished surface a number of the cards may be moved along the strapsvery easily.

From the foregoing description it becomes evident that I have provided aloose leaf binder or card index which will permit easy replacement orremoval of cards and which is easy to manipulate and which is relativelyinexpensive to manufacture.

Having-thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is-- 1. A device of the character described comprising aflexible backing, a pair of flexible straps having the ends thereofsecured to the backing,

a plurality of cards having notches in one edge for engaging the straps,means on each card for limiting the movement of one card toward anotherwhereby the lower edge of each card extends, a predetermined distancebelow the edge of the superimposed card, and means in frictionalengagement with the straps and engaging the lowermost card formaintaining the cards in position on the straps.

2. A device of the character described comprising a backing, a pair ofstraps secured thereto, a plurality of cards having notches in one edgethereof for engaging the straps, means on each card for limiting themovement of one card toward another whereby the lower edge of each cardextends a predetermined distance below the edge of the superimposedcard, and means frictionally engaging the straps. and abutting thelowermost card for maintaining the cards in position on the straps.

3. A device of the character described comprising a backing, a pair offlexible metal straps having a polished surface secured thereto, aplurality of cards having notches in the lower edge thereof for engagingthe straps, means on each card for limiting the movement of one cardtoward another whereby the lower edge of each card extends apredetermined distance below the edge of the superimposed card, andmeans frictionally engaging the straps and abutting the lowermost cardfor maintaining the cards in position on the straps.

4. A device of the character described comprising a backing, a pair offlexible metal straps having a polished surface secured to the backing,a plurality of cards having notches in one edge thereof for engaging thestraps, means on each card for limiting the movement of one card towardanother whereby the lower edge of each card extends a predetermineddistance below the edge of the superimposed card, a holder having apocket adjacent its upper and lower edge for receiving the respectiveends of the backing, and a transparent cover, one edge hingedlyconnected to the holder, the free edge insertable in the pocket at theopposite edge of the holder, the transparent cover permitting theexposed edge of each card to be visible when the cover is closed.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a backing, a pair ofstraps secured thereto, a plurality of cards having notches in one edgethereof engaging the straps, means on each card for limiting themovement of one card toward Eli) cured at the opposite ends only to therespective opposite ends of the backing, a plurality of cards havingnotches in one edge thereof for engaging the straps, said strapsadjacent one end thereof each having a portion of reduced widthpermitting the notched cards to be withdrawn from the strap when thenotches of the card align with the said portions of reduced width of thestraps, and means on each card for limiting the movement thereof towardthe preceding and superimposed card.

HOLLAND D. COTTRELL.

